Caregiver Support

Caring for someone at the end of their life can be a privilege, a blessing and an honor. This is a selfless time, and caregiving is a gift that rewards both the caregiver and patient.

There is a sense of intimacy when serving your loved one at their most vulnerable time. These experiences, although difficult at times, can be meaningful in unexpected ways. The caregiving role may be something you’ve done most of your life or it may be a new experience. Regardless of your experience, caring for a loved one with an incurable illness brings responsibilities and demands that may seem overwhelming at times.

Remember, you are not alone. Your Hospice Care Team is here to support you in your role as care

giver. We are here to help you learn how to care for your loved one, support you with information and resources and help you work through any caregiving challenges.

Each person’s journey through the dying process is unique. However, there are some common signs that usually appear to prepare the body for this transition. This process can take days to weeks unless death comes suddenly from an event such as heart attack or stroke. Your Hospice Care Team will review what may be expected to happen. It is important to call us at (407)379-0311 with any questions and report any changes in the patient’s condition.

Caregivers receive a comprehensive guideto use as a resource, education tool and handbook for patient care as well as self-care for the caregiver.

A nurse is available by phone 24/7 to answer questions, and has staff members on-call to assist when needed. (407)379-0311

Hundreds of trained volunteers assist Hospice Care Teams by helping caregivers with errands, household chores and more. Plus, volunteers can also sit with a patient to give caregivers a short break from their duties.

Here’s a list of groups and websites available to help you become a Caregiver for your loved one:

What’s there: An online community of caregivers offering tips, advice and support

A non-profit resource that provides objective advice, at no cost, to help you find someone to take care of your loved. All of their specialists know the Orlando area, the neighborhoods, the caregivers, and the community.

What’s there: An online resource for finding care providers in the community. Or call (866) 824-8174

What’s there: A self-assessment tool from Share the Care for individualized recommendations and resources

What’s there: A tool to find resources in your area by city, ZIP code or topic. Or call (800) 677-1116

What’s there: Home page for the Senior Resource Alliance, which can help find services from housing to utilities to Medicare

What’s there: The full continuum of care for seniors, from case management to medical equipment

What’s there: An educational site that can walk you through the health care for an elder and what to expect

Publications

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. Many caregivers have found it helpful to use strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors and stressful situations. Through trial and error you will find that some of the following tips work, while others do not. Each person with Alzheimer’s is unique and will respond differently, and each person changes over the course of the disease.